Planer having work piece carrying belt



April 23, 1957 PLANER HAVING WORK PIECE CARRYING BELT Filed Nov. 18,1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 \NVENTORS BURKE E. PORTER ALEXANDER H. STUARTATTORNEY April 23, 1957 PLANER HAVING WORK PIECE CARRYING BELT FiledNOV. 18. 1,954

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1fQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO INVENTORS BURKE E. PORTER ALEXANDER H. STUARTATTORNEY B. E. PORTER ETAL PLANER HAVING WORK PIECE CARRYING BELT FiledNov. 1.8, 1954 April 23, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet \NVENTORSK BURKE E.-PORTERALEXANDER H. STUART E Y a ATTORNEY United Stat patgnto 2,789,599 PLANERHAVING WORK PIECE CARRYING BELT Burke E. Porter and Alexander H. Stuart,East Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to Porter-Stuart Company, GrandRapids, Mich a partnership Application November 18, 1954, Serial No.469,810 11 Claims. (Cl. 144-128) This invention relates to wood workingmachinery and more particularly to a planer having a novel feedingmechanism for the work pieces.

Planers of conventional design use top and bottom rollers as the meansfor feeding the Work past the cutting head. This arrangement has severaldisadvantages among which are the inability of such machines to handleshort lengths of material and the high pressures necessary to grip andpositively feed the work pieces through the machine.

This invention is designed to overcome these difiiculties by providing anew and novel structure for feeding the materials past the cutter head.This invention makes it possible to successfully plane work pieces whichare substantially less than a foot in length. The invention alsoeliminates the necessity for heavy pressure rollers, particularly thosehaving a grooved surface. This eliminates possible indentation of thewood which may not be removed by the planer.

The invention has the added advantage of positively holding the Workpieces at all times, thus reducing the danger of kickbacks in the eventthere is a bind with the cutter head.

The machine produced by this invention, while positively feeding evensmall work pieces, is of simple construction and is adapted to use inboth large and small planers.

These and other advantages of this invention will be immediately seen bythose acquainted with the design and use of wood working machinery uponreading the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a planer incorporatingour invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view taken plane IIII of Fig. i.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan view of a planer incorporatingour invention, with the hood removed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the planeIV-IV of Fig. 2.

In executing the objects and purposes of our invention, we have provideda rubber-like belt having a high surface friction as the carrying meansfor transporting the work pieces through the planing operation. Thisendless belt is driven by suitable means and as it passes under thecutter head it is supported by a plurality of closely spaced rollers.Means are provided above the belt, on each side of the cutter head, topress the work pieces against the belt and assure their movement againstthe resistance of the cutting operation. All motion imparted to the workpieces results from the frictional. contact between the work pieces andthe endless carrier belt.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral indicates a centralpedestal from each side of which extends a bed assembly 11 (Fig. 1). Theends of the bed assembly 11 are supported by legs 12. The bed, assembly11 is a box-like frame of rectangular cross-section havalong the ice inga top bed plate 13 and a lower bed plate 14 joined by side structuralpieces 15 (Fig. 2). The bed provides the support for an endlessrubber-like belt is mounted to pass over pulleys at each end of the bed.

The pulley 17 is mounted on a shaft 18 (Pig. 4). The shaft 18 ispositively secured to the gear reducer 20. The upper run of the belt 16is supported by the upper bed plate 13 and the lower run of the belt 16is supported by the lower bed plate 14.

Where the belt 16 passes beneath the cutter head, an opening is providedin the top bed plate 13 (Fig. 4). In the area of this cutout there issubstituted for the upper bed plate 13 a plurality of freely rotatablerollers 25. The rollers 25 are each mounted on shafts 26 journaled in anend plate 27 on each side of the bed. The rollers 25 provide asubstantially friction-free support for the belt 16 as it passes beneaththe cutter head and its associated guide pieces in which area the workpieces are pressed tightly against the belt. The rollers 25 extend thefull Width of the belt, providing complete support for the belt in thisarea.

The belt 16 is described as being a rubber-like material. Variousfiexible, high strength materials having the desired high frictionalsurface characteristics may be used for this purpose. A rubber belthaving embedded fabric or metallic reinforcement to prevent elongationand giving the belt sufiicient tensile strength has been found toprovide a satisfactory means of carrying the work pieces.

The main column 10 contains the cutter head and its related structure.The column 10 consists of a stationary base piece 40 on each side of theplaner (Fig. 2). Above the base piece is the vertically adjustable headassembly 41 extending across the machine above the belt 16. The headassembly consists of a pair of side assemblies each of which has an arm42 engaging a threaded shaft 43. The threaded shafts are each journaledfor free rotation in a supporting block 44 and at their lower ends havea beveled gear 45. The beveled gears in turn engage mating beveled gears46 secured on the lateral shaft 47. One end of the lateral shaft 47projects exteriorly of the column 10 and is equipped with a hand wheel48. The shaft also mounts a sprocket 49 engaged by the chain 50 anddriven by the prime mover 51. Rotation of the threaded shafts 43 resultsin raising or lowering of the adjustable head 41.

On one side, the adjustable head 41 mounts a heavy duty prime mover 53which, by means of belts 54 and the pulley 55, drives the cutter shaft56. The cutter shaft is journaled by means of the bearing blocks 57 ateach end near the top of the adjustable head 41. The shaft 56, in turn,mounts the cutter head 58. The cutter head 58 is equipped with cuttingblades 59 and is designed for rotation by the prime mover 53.

On the end of the shaft 56 remote from the pulley 55 an indexingassembly is provided. The indexing assembly consists of a head 62 havinga notch 63 corresponding to each cutter blade 59. Above the head 62 is adepressible plunger 64 designed to engage the notches 63. The indexingassembly is designed to lock the cutsharpened.

The cutter head 58 is positioned above the upper run of the belt 16 and,by vertical adjustment of the adjustable head 41, may be raised orlowered with respect to i the belt 16. Mounted transversely of theadjustable head on each side of the cutter head The following paragraphswill 41, above the belt 16 and 58, are guide assemblies.

describe the guide assembly on the down stream side, that is, on theside of the cutter head from which the work is approaching.

The down stream guide assembly is supported by I3 an L-shaped mainsupporting frame 71, extending transversely of the belt 16 and firmlysecured to the adjustable head structure 41 on each end (Fig. 4). Belowthe supporting frame 71 and parallel to it is a pivot rod 72. The pivotrod extends transversely of the belt 16 and provides the hinge or pivotmounting commonv to all of the fingers 73.

A plurality of narrow finger members '73 are used. The purpose of thisis to assure a positive downward pressure by the finger members on thework pieces they approach the cutter head irrespective of whether thework pieces are Wide or narrow. The fingers 73 are of such length thatthey extend from the rod 72 to the cutter head 58. The end of thefingers adjacent the cutter head are inclined at 69 so that the bottomtip of these fingers may reach practically to the point of contactbetween the work pieQ? 811dv the cutter head without interference withthe cutter head.

Bearing on the upper surface of the fingers adjacent the cutter head andcommon to all the fingers, is a transverse bar 74. The bar 74, by meansof an arm 75 on each side, is pivotally mounted to the rod 72. The bar74 is supported entirely by the fingers 73. Any finger raised by thework pieces traveling on the belt must also lift the bar 74. Thisarrangement assures positive contact be tween the fingers and the workpiece.

In addition, each individual finger is resiliently urged against thework piece by the spring 76 which surrounds the sliding stud 77. Theupper end of the stud 77 is slidably received through an opening 78 inthe transverse angle 79. The lower end of the stud 77 is pointed at 80and is received in a suitable pocket in the finger 73. The tension onthe spring 76 is adjusted by means of the nut 81 on the lower end of thestud. This arrangement assures positive downward pressure by eachindividual finger on any work piece passing to the cutter head. Themaximum downward position of each finger 73 is controlled by theadjustment stud 82 on the down stream end of the supporting frame 71.The studs 82 are each locked in position by means of a nut 83.

The angle 79 is secured to the vertical leg of the supporting frame 71by means of bolts 84.

On the down stream or opposite side of the cutter head 58 is a lintel85. The lintel 85 extends the full width of the adjustable head assembly41 and is firmly secured thereto for vertical movement with theadjustable head. The lintel provides, on each side of the belt .16, avertical guideway 86 mounting a slide block 87 for vertical, slidingmovement. The slide blocks 87 are each threadedly engaged by a verticaladjustment screw 38. The screws 88, pass, through the top of the lintel85' and above the lintel mount a sprocket 39. The sprockets 89 arejoined by an endless chain 96. Thus, by gri ping the bolt head 91 at thetop of either of the screws 88, both screws will be rotatedsimultaneously by the coordinating action of the chain 99..

The bottoms of the slide blocks 87 secure a horizontal shoe 92 extendingacross the conveyor bed at least the full width of the belt 16. The shoe92 is pointed at its upstream end 93 where it passes beneath thedownstream portion of the cutter head 53. The bottom of the end 93 isslightly chamfered at 94 to prevent the work pieces, as they emerge frombeneath the cutter head, from becoming jammed against the end of theshoe 9.2. The shoe is adjusted to the exact height of the work pieces asthey emerge from beneath the cutter head. It serves the purpose ofholding the ends of the boards down as they emerge, preventing them fromcurling up due to any internal stresses which may be released as aresult of the planing operation.

Downstream of the shoe 92 is the pressure roller 96. The pressure roller96' is designed to provide an additional means for holding down the endof the boards as they emerge from beneath the shoeh92' and to preventthe boards, should they warp, from turning up as they emerge from underthe shoe and thus being improperly planed by the cutter head 58 or losetheir surface contact with the belt 16. The pressure roller '96 ismounted for vertical movement by means of a pair of sliding journalblocks 97 designed to vertically reciprocate in the vertical guideways98 of the lintel 85. The sliding journal blocks 97 are mounted one oneach end of the shaft 99 carrying the pressure roller 96.

The minimum spacing of the pressure roller 96 from the belt- 16 isdetermined by the two adjustment screws 100, one on each end of thepressure roll and each threadedly engaging one of the journal blocks'97. The adjustment screws 100 are each free to slide through an openingin the top of the lintel with the journal blocks moving against theresistance of the springs 101. The springs 101 surround the adjustmentscrews and bear against the lintel 85 and the journal blocks 97.

The pressure roller is designed to be set slightly below the bottom faceof the shoe 9g. At this settling it will positively engage the workpieces as they emerge from beneath the shoe 92. The work pieces willraise the pressure roller 96 against the resistance of the springs 191to positively press the work pieces against the belt 16 and to preventtheir disengagement from its surface.

The surface of the pressure roller 96 is smooth. This is possible sinceit merely exerts downward pressure and does not propel the work pieces.

The vertical adjustments employed with the pressure roller 96, the shoe92 and the fingers 73 are all adjustments for vertically positioningthem relative to the cutter head 58. Since, however, these guideelements together with the cutter head are all mounted upon theadjustable head 41, they may all be raised or lowered as a group withrespect to the belt 16 without changing the positions of theseindividual elements with respect to each other.

- Operation in the operation of our machine, the movement of the workpieces through the planer is effected entirely by means of the belt 16.The Work pieces are laid on the belt 16. By reason of the highfrictional surface of this belt, these pieces are positively held andcarried with the belt.

As they approach the cutter head, they strike one or more of the fingers73, lifting them. This will always be the case, since the fingers 73 areat all times set to project slightly below the cutter head and thepieces as they approach the cutter head are thicker than when they leaveit since a certain amount of the thickness is removed in the planingoperation. The raising of the fingers '73 causes-these fingers both tolift the bar 74 and to compress the springs 76. Depending upon the widthof the work piece, one or more of the fingers 73 will be raised. Theraising of a single finger will effect a lifting of the bar 74. However,when more than one finger 73 is raised, the work piece will be subjectedto the accumulative affect of resistance of the springs 76 operatingupon each individual finger.

The fingers 73 positively press the work piece against the belts surfaceassuring a firm, frictional grip between the belt and the work piece asthe work piece passes in contact with the blades 59 of the cutter head53. This frictional grip, is sufficient to push or pull, as the case maybe, the work piece past the cutter head despite the resistance of thecutter head as it removes a layer of the work piece.

The angle at which the fingers 73 are inclined with respect to thesurface of the belt is important. This angle. is approximately 8 At thisangle the fingers will not. reject an unusually thick board since the retarding component of force generated by the fingers is substantiallyless than that required to. cause the work pieceto slip on the belt.This is true, even though the work piece is short. Thus, the fingers areset to what is sometimes termed the angle of no rejection. Because ofthis it becomes unnecessary for the operator to assist the machinesfeeding operation with the hazard of injury attendant such practices.

This result is one which cannot be obtained in conventional roller feedconstructions. Even though the work piece strikes the feed roller wellbelow its centerline, the Work piece is frequently rejected. This isinherent in roller feed arrangements and, thus, cannot be avoided solong as rollers are employed.

As the work piece emerges from beneath the cutterhead, it immediatelyengages the bottom of the shoe 92. The shoe 92, like the fingers '73,presses the work piece against the belt 16. This is important in woodworking operations since many woods, when passed through a planer and aportion of one face removed, are subject to a redistribution of stressloads which may result in arching, bowing or curving in any one of several directions. The shoe 92, being locked by the screws 88 to the exactspacing for the particular thickness of the work piece after it emergesfrom beneath the cutter head 58, firmly holds the work piece againstwarpage. This assures its continued contact with the belt and preventsit from being miscut due to arching or warping as it passes beneath thecutter head.

The work piece, almost immediately after it emerges from beneath theshoe 92, is engaged by the pressure roller 96. The pressure roller 96,being set lower than the bottom of the shoe d2, must be forced upwardlyagainst the resistance of the springs 101 by the passage of the workpiece. The pressure exerted by the pressure roller 96 assures contactbetween the work piece and the belt as it passes through the planer.

Although in case of long pieces, the guide elements are not as essentialas in the case of short work pieces, they do assure a better product. Inthe case of short work pieces, it is essential to assure positivecontact with the belt as the work pieces move under the cutter head 58.This is accomplished by these particular guide elements since on theupstream side the end of the work piece is not released until it isalmost at the point of cutting. At the same time, the work piece isengaged by the shoe 92 almost immediately after it emerges from beneaththe cutter head.

However, more importantly, in so far as the planing of short lengths ofwood are concerned, the use of the belt traveling the entire length ofthe bed, including beneath the cutter head, provides a positive carrierfor the work pieces. Unlike conventional structures, the work pieces areat all times under the influence of the moving belt. The use ofpropelling rollers to move-the work pieces through the planernecessitates the work piece at least having a length sufficient to morethan bridge the gap between the propelling rollers on each side of thecutter head since it is only by contact with the propelling rollers thatthe work piece is caused to move. Further, the propelling rollers, bynecessity, must have a substantial grip on the work piece since theircontact is limited to a minute portion of the total area of the workpiece.

By employing a belt, the entire bottom surface of the Work piece servesas a gripping for propelling the work piece. This grip is maintainedthroughout the operation, even while the work piece is directly beneaththe cutter head. Thus, work pieces as small as six inches in length maybe successfully planed by this machine since it is only necessary thatthey have contact with the belt and with either the fingers 73 or theshoe $2 to prevent them pivoting upwardly under the rotative effect ofthe spinning cutter head 53. Never before has this result beenaccomplished.

The use of fingers 73 set at an angle of no rejection is also importantin adapting the planer to the planing of short work pieces.

Furthermore, the pressures applied to the work pieces either by means ofthe fingers 73 or by the pressure roller 96 need be only a fraction ofthatrequired with the propelling rollers of conventional planerequipment. With the belt the entire bottom surface of the work piece isused to obtain traction. Further, the propelling rollers contacting thefinished surface of the work must be smooth, thus producing limitedtraction. Such rollers must operate under elevated pressures to overcomethe lack of traction incident to such surface characteristics. Thisreduction in pressure plus the ability to use a smooth surface on thebelt, the guide elements and the pressure roller eliminates theimperfections which sometimes resulted from the use of such tractionmeans as corrugated rollers. This machine may not only plane materialswhich were heretofore considered unsuited for planing but produces asuperior product irrespective of the length of the material involved.

To positively control possible deflection of the belt under theoperating pressures of the mechanism, it will be seen that one of therollers 25 supporting the belt 16 is positioned directly beneath thecutter head 58. This arrangement assures positive support for the beltand the work piece at this point, resulting in accurate cutting of thematerial to the desired thickness. In the same way, it will be notedthat one of the rollers 25 is placed directly beneath the pressureroller 96 to provide the same direct support in this area.

The use of the belt and pressure finger combination at the entrance tothe planer contributes materially to the safety of the machine. If anoperators fingers are caught between the feed rollers, they normallycannot be withdrawn. Unless the machine is stopped, the rollers willdraw the operator into the machine. In the case of the finger-beltcombination, the operator may withdraw his hand before it is crushed andfed into the cutter head. The belt-finger combination does not acquirethe same irresistible grip as that of a pair of rollers, particularlywhere one of the rollers is corrugated.

The simplicity of this invention provides a less expensive planer.Despite this simplicity, the planer is capable of producing resultsheretofore impossible and of producing these results consistently on aproduction basis.

While we have described a preferred embodiment of our invention, it willbe recognized that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the principles of the invention. Each of these modifications is tobe considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unlessthese claims by their language expressly state otherwise.-

We claim:

1. In a planer having a driven cutting head, a bed beneath said cuttinghead and projecting in both directions therefrom and means for guidingand moving a work piece beneath and in contact with said cutting head,said means comprising: a rubber-like belt having a surface characterizedby a high coefficient of friction; said belt being mounted on andmovable along said bed; means for driving said belt; a plurality ofrollers mounted in said bed beneath said cutting head, said rollersbeing adapted to support said belt; one of said rollers being verticallyaligned with centerline of said cutter head.

2. In a planer having a driven rotary cutting head, a bed beneath saidcutting head, projecting in both directions therefrom and means forguiding and moving a work piece beneath and in contact with said cuttinghead, said means comprising: a rubber-like endless belt having a surfacecharacterized by a high coefiicient of friction; said belt mounted onsaid bed; a mounting pulley for said belt at each end of said bed; meansfor driving one of said pulleys; a plurality of guide elements adjacentsaid cutting head; means mounting said guide elements for verticalpivotal movement above said belt and on the approach side of saidcutting head with respect to the movement of said belt; meansbiasingsaid guide elements toward said belt. 7

3 In a planer having a driven rotary cutting head, a bed beneath saidcutting head, projecting in both directions therefrom and means forguiding and moving a Work piece beneath and in contact with said cuttinghead, said means comprising: a rubber-like endless belt having a surfacecharacterized by a high coefficient of friction; said belt mounted onsaid bed; a mounting'pulley for said belt at each end of said bed; meansfor driving one of said pulleys; a plurality of guide elements adjacentsaid cutting head; means mounting said guide elements for verticalpivotal movement above said belt and on the approach side of saidcutting head with respect to the movement of said belt; meansresiliently biasing said guide elements toward said belt; a shoeadjacent said cutting head and on the other side thereof from said guideelements; means mounting said shoe above said belt; said mounting meansfor said shoe including threaded members whereby said shoe may bevertically adjusted; means resiliently urging said shoe toward saidbelt.

4. In a planer having a driven rotary cutting head, a bed beneath saidcutting head, projecting in both directions therefrom and means forguiding and moving a work piece beneath and in contact with said cuttinghead, said means comprising: a rubber-like endless belt having a surfacecharacterized by a high coelficient of friction; said belt mounted onsaid bed; a mounting pulley for said belt at each end of said bed; meansfor driving one of said pulleys; a plurality of belt supporting freelyrotatable rollers mounted in said bed beneath said cutting head; guideelements above said belt adjacent to and on both sides of said cuttinghead; a pressure roller; means resiliently mounting said pressure rollerfor vertical, movement above said belt and downstream of said guideelements with respect to the direction of movement of said belt.

5. In a planer having a driven rotary cutting head, a bed beneath saidcutting head, projecting in both directions therefrom and means forguiding and moving a work piece beneath and in contact with said cuttinghead, said means comprising: a rubber-like endless belt having a surfacecharacterized by a high coefiicient of friction; said belt mounted onsaid bed; a mounting pulley for said belt at each end of said bed; meansfor driving one of said pulleys; aplurality of guide elements adjacentsaid cutting head; means mounting said guide elements for verticalpivotal movement above said belt and on the approach side of saidcutting head with respect to the movement of said belt; means biasingsaid guide elements toward said belt; a shoe adjacent said cutting headand on the other side thereof from said guide elements; means mountingsaid shoe above said belt; said mounting means for said shoe including athreaded memher at each end thereof whereby said shoe may be verticallyadjusted; a pressure roller; means resiliently mounting said pressureroller for vertical movement above said belt and downstream of said shoewith respect to the direction of movement of said belt.

6. In a planer having a driven rotary cutting head, a bed beneath saidcutting head, projecting in both directions therefrom and means forguiding and moving a work piece beneath and in contact with said cuttinghead, saidmeans comprising: a rubber-like endless belt having a surfacecharacterized by a high coefficient of friction; said belt mounted onsaid bed; a mounting pulley for said belt at each end of said bed; meansfor driving one of said pulleys; a plurality of elongated guide elementsadjacent said cutting head, said guide elements extending longitudinallyof said belt; means mounting said guide elements for vertical pivotalmovement above said bet and on the approach side of said cutting headwith respect to the movement of said belt; said guide elements beinginclined toward said belt at an angle of approximately i 8; meansbiasing said guide elements toward said belt; a shoe adjacent saidcutting head and on the other side thereof from said guide elements;means mounting said shoe above said. belt; sai d' mounting means forsaid shoe including a threaded member at each end thereof whereby saidshoe may be vertically adjusted; a pressure roller; means resilientlymounting said pressure roller for vertical movement above said belt anddownstream of said shoe with respect to the direction of movement ofsaid belt.

7. In a planer having a driven rotary cutting head, a bed beneath saidcutting head, projecting in both directions therefrom and means forguiding and moving a worl; piece beneath and in contact with saidcuttinghead, said means comprising: a rubber-like endless belt have inga surface characterized by a high coefficient of friction; said beltbeing mounted on saidj bed; a mounting pulley for said belt at each endof saidbed; means for driving one of said pulleys; a plurality of guideelements adjacent said cutting head; means mounting said guide elementsin side by side relationship laterally across said belt for verticalpivotal movement above said belt and on the approach side of saidcutting head with respect to the movement of said belt; meansindividually biasing each of said guide elements toward said belt.

8. In a planer having a driven rotary cutting head, a bed beneath saidcutting head, projecting in both directions therefrom and means forguiding and moving a Work piece beneath and in contact with, saidcutting head, said means comprising: a rubber-like endless belt having asurface characterized by a high coeflicient, of friction; said beltmounted on said bed; a mounting pulley for said belt at each end of saidbed; means for driving one of said pulleys; a plurality of elongatedguide elements adjacent said cutting head, said guide elements extendinglongitudinally of said. belt; means mounting said guide elements forvertical pivotal movement above said belt and on the approach side ofsaid cutting head with respect to the movement of said belt; said guideelements being inclined toward said belt at an angle of approximately 8;means biasing said guide elements toward said belt.

9. In combination with a planer having a driven rotary cutting head, abed beneath said cutting head, projecting in both directions therefrom,a conveying means beneath said cutting head for moving said work piecebeneath and in contact with said cutting head; a plurality of guideelements adjacent said cutting head; means mounting said guide elementsfor vertical pivotal movement above said conveying means-and on theapproach side of said cutting head with respect to the movement of saidconveying means; said guide elements being inclined toward said belt atan angle of approximately 8".

10. In combination with a planer having a driven rotary cutting head, abed beneath said cutting head, projecting in both directions therefrom,a conveying means beneath said cutting head for moving said work piecebeneath and in contact with said cutting head; a plurality of guideelements adjacent said cutting head; means mounting said guide elementsfor vertical pivotal movement above said conveying means and on theapproach side of said cutting head with respect to the movement of saidconveying means; means resiliently biasing said guide elements towardsaid conveying means; a shoe adjacent said cutting head and on the otherside thereof from said guide elements; means mounting said shoe abovesaid conveying means; said mounting means for said shoe includingmembers adapted to vertically adjust said shoe; means resiliently urgingsaid shoe toward said conveying means; a pressure roller; meansresiliently mounting said pressure roller for vertical movement abovesaid belt and downstream of said shoe with respect to the direction ofmovement of said belt.

11. In combinationwith av planer having a driven rotary cutting head, abed beneath said cuttinglhead project ing in both directions therefrom,a conveying'means 9 beneath said cutting head for moving said work piecebeneath and in contact with said cutting head; a plurality of guideelements adjacent said cutting head; means mounting said guide elementsfor vertical pivotal movement above said conveying means and on theapproach side of said cutting head with respect to the movement of saidconveying means; said guide elements being inclined toward said belt atan angle of approximately 8; means resiliently biasing said guideelements toward said conveying means; a shoe adjacent said cutting headand on the other side thereof from said guide elements; means mountingsaid shoe above said conveying means; said mounting means for said shoeincluding members adapted to vertically adjust said shoe; meansresiliently urging said shoe toward said conveying means; a pressureroller; means resiliently mounting said pressure roller for verticalmovement above said belt and downstream of said shoe with respect to thedirection of movement of said belt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS171,480 Houston Dec. 28, 1875 390,807 Schimansky Oct. 9, 1888 1,551,178Strand Aug. 25, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 57,478 Norway Jan. 11, 1937 233,394Germany Apr. 8, 1911 502,863 France Aug. 6, 1919

